Most people usually scratch their heads, trying to figure out how to eliminate ants in shower rooms. Some try different methods such as manually killing ants whenever they spot them or even through common insecticides, but they keep coming back. As such, many people give up in despair.
However, you don’t need to endure the discomfort of having tiny ants in the bathroom. Over the years, I have been studying various methods of home pest control.
Therefore, I have gathered vast information on the common types of insects that are notorious for invading bathrooms and various methods of eradicating different species of ants. I believe that by sharing this information, you will be able to have an ant-free bathroom without having to undergo much stress.
Therefore, in this article, I will enlighten you on why ants normally invade bathrooms, the ant species notorious for this menace, and how to eradicate these insects.
- Caulk up any cracks in the bathroom.
- Keep the house clean.
- Ensure that there is no motionless water, and sinks are frequently wiped to eliminate condensed water.
- Use insecticides, borax, essential oils, and a vinegar solution to remove colonies of tiny and large black ants.
Why Are There Ants in My Bathroom Walls and Drains?
Many types of ants usually find their way into our homes, including the washroom. They invade our dwelling places in search of shelter, water, and food using avenues such as crevices and cracks around windows or in the foundation walls. Another entry route is via air conditioning or heating ducts. What’s more, they can gain access to our homes through the vent openings within attics, or where shrubs, utility lines, or tree branches make contact with the house.
What are ants attracted to in the bathroom? The scents and odors emanating from sanitary drains usually attract many ant species. Typically, sanitary drains that have stayed for long periods without use will gather some motionless water that possibly contains rotting human hair.
Is there any other thing that can attract these insects to bathrooms? Yes. The shower room environment provides a conducive breeding environment and also offers food. Fermented hair offers nutrition to various ant species.
Ants That Invade Bathrooms
Even though there are hundreds of ant species that can be encountered in the washroom, the typical ones include sugar ants, carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, the Argentine ants, and fire ants. The key attractions are normally moisture and food. Nonetheless, not all of them might enter and nest or establish a colony.
All the same, you need to be highly concerned whenever you spot the moisture ants. They are characterized by yellowish workers approximately 4 to 4.5 mm long. This species derives its name from the fact that it prefers to nest in a variety of highly moist areas. Therefore, an infestation could be an indication that your wooden foundation or floor has some moisture damage. Bath traps are notorious for this occurrence.
As such, whenever you spot moisture ants in your washroom, it could be an indication of plumbing leaks in the drainage system or crawlspaces. In this case, you need to take prompt action before the problem spirals out of hand.
How to Eradicate an Ant Infestation in Bathroom
The majority of homeowners normally believe that ant infestations are common during summer. Though, it could signify something even worse. Warm, moist wood is always a big attraction, and the most likely place to find such an environment is in the washrooms.
Water that finds its way to the wood might come from the sink or areas around the bathtub. As such, you should seal off any cracks in the washroom, not forgetting those in the middle of tiles and nearby the tub rim.
The shower should be kept dry to avoid the accumulation of moisture. Also, during the application of caulk, make certain that you give it enough duration to cure. As such, do not use the washroom for a day or two. Frequently clean the shower with a brush and a cleanser, and do not forget to remove any hair that has accumulated in the stopper.
Keeping the Home Clean
Ants usually migrate in search of nutriment and water. Hence you must always maintain cleanliness in the washroom and other parts of your home. Food, dirt, and decaying hair that builds up in sinks are a rich source of food for these insects.
Ensure that you properly dispose of the garbage bins and regularly clean them. Any residue left is a potential attraction to these insects.
Pour half a cup of vinegar with an equal amount of soda in the sink to assist you in clearing the pipes of grease and food deposits. Let it stay inside the drain for around 10 minutes. After that, flush it down using hot water.
This simple remedy, in addition to regular cleansing, can assist in warding off ants from the home sanitation pipes for some time. Nevertheless, it is usually difficult to know of any leaks behind the walls and in foundations of your house in a timely manner.
Steps to Eradicate both Big and Tiny Black Ants in Bathroom Surfaces
Sometimes, you have to handle the ant infestation. In this case, prevention measures do not apply. Therefore, you should follow several steps to eradicate the menace effectively. The steps have been listed below:
Identify the Key Attractions
Ants, like any other insects, migrate from one place to another, seeking nourishment and water. As a result, the washroom and kitchen are typical problem areas.
The initial step in eradicating ants from the shower is cutting off their water source by stopping any leaks and drips. Ensure that there is no motionless water, and sinks are frequently wiped to eliminate condensed water.
Follow the Trails
Ants are renowned for their organization. They usually follow certain patterns, thus leaving trails. You can track such trails to discover the pathways used to access the washroom and where they come from.
Seal Cracks
It is very likely that they use cracks within walls and tiles to invade your bathroom. Ensure that all these are properly sealed and replace the old caulk. Likewise, outside your house should not provide pathways via which the ants can access the house and, subsequently, the bathroom.
Removing the Colony of both Tiny and Big Black Ants in Bathroom
Ants usually search for nourishment and water. Anything they get is always taken to the colony. Therefore, when you destroy the colony, you will lastingly do away with the ants from your washroom. The usage of borax and essential oils can be effective, but if you want to see the result fast, you better use specialized insecticides.
Best Ant Killer Trap for Bath
Insecticides
Insecticides have always been recognized as the best and easiest approach for eliminating ants. The manufacturers have researched and perfected how to make effective chemicals for removing ants. Currently, there exist several insecticides that work effectively when used with both manufacturers and professional advice.
A major advantage of using insecticides over natural methods is that they provide almost instant results. Also, they offer a long-lasting remedy compared to natural approaches.
Related Post: Best Ant Traps & Baits Reviewed.
Borax
This is a highly effective natural solution. However, before using it, it is imperative to take note that this chemical can be unsafe for both bets and humans. Formulate protein bait consisting of 25 percent borax and 75 percent peanut butter.
One more variant of the bait is a cup containing a blend of honey and borax. Apply the baits along the trails. This aids in killing these bugs in various phases of growth. This technique is highly effective, especially for eradicating sugar ants in bathroom surfaces.
Essential Oils
This is another effective method of eradicating ants from the washroom. Ants are hypersensitive to nearly all kinds of essential oils. Among the most potent in eradicating ants is a blend of peppermint and tea tree. Better yet, it is a cost-effective and 100 percent natural ant repellent that is easy to apply.
The application approach is to spray it on the ants, instantly killing them. Also, you can spray it on the outdoor areas around the house. Repeat the same procedure after several weeks for it to work effectively. This is the most commonly used method, especially for carpenter ants in bathroom surfaces.
Create a mixture consisting of 15 drops of tea tree oil and an equal amount of peppermint oil. After that, add 6 to 8 ounces of water and half teaspoon of cayenne powder.
Mix thoroughly until the cayenne powder dissolves. Lastly, place it at the source of the trail to effectively repel.
Vinegar Solution
Eliminating ants in the washroom does not need to be costly. The everyday supplies already found at home can get the job done. One of them is using vinegar. After identifying the main entry points of ants, spray those areas with a vinegar solution. Ants rely on scent for directions. Hence vinegar’s scent helps to block their form of communication.
Also read:
- How to Get Rid of Ants in the Garden: The Safest and Easiest Methods
- How to Get Rid of Ant Hills (Colonies) in Yard: Detailed Identification & Removal Guide
- How to Get Rid of Ants Inside & Outside – Most Effective Methods
- How to Get Rid of Ants in a Car: Control & Prevention Guide
- Best Indoor and Outdoor Ant Killers in 2024: Expert Reviews
The Bottom Line
Eliminating black and red ants in bathroom surfaces, or any other type of ants is not an easy task. However, if you do not take any action, they can result in major issues, predominantly in the home sanitation system. Ants usually search for water and food in sanitation areas. Therefore, whenever you experience any issue with your plumbing, you can try out the remedies mentioned above.
The methods mentioned above are non-toxic and easily available. For instance, using borax is a highly safe technique for eliminating ants. Apart from being a pest eradicator, many people have used it to clean outdoor furniture and can also be used as a dishwasher cleaner. So, it doesn’t cause harm to humans. The best method, however, is using insecticides. The chemicals provide instant and long-lasting results as compared to natural methods.
Have you ever encountered ants in the washroom? Which approach did you use to eliminate them? Was it effective? Share your experiences by leaving a comment.
References:
- How to Stop Ants from Coming Into Your Home (WikiNow by Kevin Carrillo):
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Ants-from-Coming-Into-Your-Home - Do’s and Don’ts of Pest Control (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency):
https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/dos-and-donts-pest-control
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